Manhole cover for tanks



Sept. 17, 1935. J NEELY- 2,014,861

- MANHOLE COVER FOR TANKS 1 Filed July 10, 1954 7???) 2} Z I A 5 WW 27m Mwzzmw Anvmjrx I6 material Patented v I BaymomlJ. Neely, Little EallsfNrYu assignorto Cherry-Burrell Corporation, corporation of Delaware Chicago, IlL, a

Application July 10, 1934, serial-Ne. 734,44 i I a Claims.

" This invention relates to improvements in inanhole covers for tanks, particularly milk truck tanks. The manhole covers of this sort, which are t of relatively large diameter, are hinged or mount- 5 ed so as to adapt them to be opened to afiordready access into the tank, and are commonly made with one or more small diameter openings therethro'ugh provided withsuitable closure devices adapting them for use for filling the'tank without opening the large manhole cover or for r the reception of an air vent valve or other fitting used in the operation of the tank. It is important for sanitary purposes, especially in the case of milk truck tanks, to Protect such openings or fittings from dust or other contamination, and some health ordinances require the provision of dust or protecting hoods over the manhole covers. One object of this invention is to provide 'a combined manhole cover and protecting hood-of ,noveland desirable constructiom Other objects of the invention are toprovide a manhole cover which is movable to openand close the manhole and may be equipped with a filling device,'vent valve or other fitting, and a hood which protects said fittings and also serves as the clamping or securing means forthe cover; also to provide a combined manhole cover and protect- --ing hood'of light and desirable construction and capable of easy operation; which; will insure a perfect sealing of the cover uniformly around the rim of the manhole; also toconstruct the device so as to insure the perfect seating and sealing of the cover notwithstanding inaccuracies of manufacture or variations in the sealing gasket for the cover, due to wear or permanent "compression thereof; and also to provide amanhole cover having the other features of improvement hereindescribed and set forthin the claims. l

Inthe accompanying drawing: v --i vFig. 1 is a sectionalielev'ationpi a combine manhole cover and protecting embodying my 7 invention, V

Fig. 2 is a sectional planviewlthereo'n, on a re-,

duced scale; on line 1-1, Fig.1; 7 T Fig. 3 is a sectional elevationjthereof showing the cover and hood open."

- v Fig. 4 is a transversesection the cover I and hood hinges online Fig.2

Fig. 5; is an enlargedgele'vatior'i showing the so 'hinge adjusting means for. theh'ood."

Fig. 6 is a detail section on line 6-,"Fig. 1; ll representsthe upper portion of a tank; for

-instance,amilktrucktanksuch asareoommonly withalining' llniade of new r adapted for contact-with .themilk or (cacao-.55) other contents of the 'tankfandan outer-insu lilting-jacket l2. The drawing-illustratesa tank ofithis type in which the liningprovided with a a, projecting neck or. portion I3 extending out through an opening in theinsulating jacketand 5 forming the walls'of the manhole lot the tank, The neck shown is providedatits upper end with anjout-turne'd flange or ii the fiat I end face of which the manhole cover if is adapted tose'at for closing themanhol e 10 The cover l6 shown consists of a. circular'disk provided witha peripheral rubber. or other suit- 1 able packing gasket l1, which is preferably of;

* channel cross section and straddles the marginalportion of the disk and is adapted totightly seal the manhole when the cover is pressed or clamped against the rim IS. The 'cover is movably mounted to open and close, preferably by a hinge arm l8 fixed to the cover disk inwardly-from the seala pin l9 to abase ring which issecured on the 1 tank surrounding the neck I: outside'of the ins'u-,

lating jacket. The base ring 20 may be;as shown,

a split ring composed of two halves clamped about the neck l3 by a bolt 2i atone side of'the neck and by the pivot pin 22 for a cover-securing device at the opposite side of the neck or in any other suitable manner. The hinge pin l! passes through a slot '23 in the hinge arm l8, and this. slot 23 is preferably elongated in a direction parallel with the axis of the manhole soithatthe cover,-in addition to swinging ab ut the hinge pin,

is allowed a limited movement normal to the plane of the rim IE to insure that-the marginal gasket. on the cover always-seat fiatagainst the rim 5 t throughout its entire circumference.

- 25 represents a hollow-tor securingand protecting hood which overlies or' encloses-the cover l6 and isprovided with a rimli'which conforms to the marginal contour of the cover and is 40 adapted to bear against 5 the 'outer .face of the gasket l1 opposite the manhole rim [5 so that by forcing. or pressing the hood inwardly against the gasket or margin of the cover, the lattefwill be clamped between the rim of and the rim ofzthe manhole. and will tightly sealthe manhole and also the joint between the marginof the cover and therim ofithe hood. 7 7

t The hood-is mounted to move toward and from t the manhole and'cover to permit the closing-and opening of the hood and cover, preferably by hinging the hood on the hinge pin llfor the cover. For this the hood' shown has hinge lugs 21 which straddle the hingea'rms IO' -ofthecoverandaredrllledfortheeof i mg gasket or margin of the cover-,and hinged by 0 the hinge pin is therethrough. The hood may be secured in closed position by suitable means, such as a clamping bolt- 28 and nut 28 located diametrically opposite to the hood hinge and '5 adapted, as by. tightening the nut 29, to force the hood. toward the manhole rim so as to clamp the margin of the. cover between said rim and the rim of the hood. The bolt 2' shown is'an,

eye bolt pivoted on the connecting pin I! of the 10' base ring Ill, and the free end of the bolt is adapted, when the nut 29 is loosened, to swing in and out between lugs 30 on the hood on' which. the nut is-adapted to bear when tightening it for securing'the'cover. Any other suitable securing or,

'15 clamping device for the hood could be employed. In order to equalize and distribute the pressure a of the hood throughout its circumferential extent on the margin of the cover and to compensate for wear or permanent compression in 20 the sealing gasket 11, the hood hinge is made' adjustable to permit the hilige'portion of the hood to be'adjusted-in or out toward orirom the manhole rim. In the construction shown for this purpose, the ends of thehinge pin [I extend into ver-'- 25 tically elongated slots u in lugs 32 on the base ring- 20 and are adiustably supported in these slots by adjusting screws a which turn in smooth .holes in the 11 8 Stand in threaded holes 34 in the ends of the hinge pin so that by turning the 30 screws, the hinge pin can beadjusted in or out to place the 'axis of the'hood hinge inwardly or outwardly relative to'the plane of the manhole rim Ii.

The hinge pin can belocked in adjusted p'osi 35 tion, as by lock nuts Ii screwed on the ends of the adjusting screws II. The elongated slot. in the hinge arm of the cover it permits these adjustments of the hingepin as welias allowing the before mentioned limited movement of the cover 40 normal to the plane of the manhole rim independently of or relative to the hood.

By the construction described','both the cover i andthehoodarehmgedtothe.tankbythesame hinge pin; but the cover and hood-are independrv45 e'ntlymovable to open and close the manhole and,

- in addition, the cover I ispermitted a limited movement normal to the plane of the'manholerimtoinsurethatitwillalwaysbearfiat against --the rim throughput the circmnference thereof,

. 50, and the hinge axis of the hood is also-adjustable towardfand from the plane of the cover "so as to'always-insure uniform pressure of the rim'of the hood th'rmuhmt its circmnferential extent on the gasket or margin of thecover, even though 55 may vary in thickness due to wear or permanent compression thereof.

I -Theeoverl6i sshownasprovidedwithanilingopeningaanda-closuredevice orfittingll therei'orremovahly'securedtothecover,asby o boltsflandwimnuisllwhichpermit'theready removal andfasteningo ttheclosuredevicefor opening and closing thefilling opening I. A gasketorpackingdlontheclosuredevicemsures thefll tsealingofthefillingopening. Theclo:

duetosplashing'ortheiippingorot means. Asshowmthevalveli hprovicb dwith 1a stem paling through'andadaptedtoslide freelyjn'aguid'ehole inthe fitting I1 and f having'at its a nut 48 for limiting the 75 downward or openim td'the valve.

- outwardly beyond the valve the fitting 81 v is provided with screened vent openings 44. This filling and vent valve fitting is enclosed and protected by the hood 2! which would likewise cover and protect any other fitting or device with which the cover might be equipped so as to prote'ctthe same from dust or other contamination.

Locking means are preferably provided for the hood and cover-securing device. Such means in the construction shown consists of a padlock 45,

'the bow of whichis adapted to be passed through a hole 6 in the threaded end of the securing bolt 28' and through registering slots 41 in the securing nut 29 to thus prevent'the 'tuming of the nut and the opening of the hood andvmanhole cover, except by first unlocking and removing the lock.

I claim.as my invention: D V 1. The combination with a tank having a manhole, of a cover hinged to the tankand arranged to seat at its margin on .the rim of'the manhole, said cover having a limited movement normal to I the plane of said cover seat, and a hood over the cover and mounted to swing independently of thecover and having a rim-arranged to engage the margin of the-cover substantially throughout its circumferential extent, and securing means which urges the hood to clamp the marginal portion of the cover between the hood and the cover seat.

2. A combinedmanhole cover and hood for tanksfcomprising a hood mounted to move to- 1 within said hood and hinged to swing independently thereof toward and from the manhole, a seatwhichthecoveren'gagestoclose themanhole, said hood having a rim arranged to engage themarginofthecoveratpointsrub stantially throughout its circumferential extent, andsecuringmeansforurgingthehoodtoward the cover and clamping the latter betweensaid 50 hood rim and-the'eover seat. I

4. Acombined manhole-cover and hoodfor tanks, comprising. a hood hinged to swing'toward and from the manhole, a cover for the manhole within said hood and hinged to swing independentlythereof about the same hinge axis as the hood toward'and from'the manhole, said-hood havingarimarrangedtobearontbemargin of the cover substantiallythroughout its circum ferential extent, and securing means for urging 00' thehoodtowardthecoverandclampingtbe latterbetweensaidhoodrimandthe rimofthe '5.-A combinedmanhole cover and hood for andfromthemanholaacoverforthemanhole 'withinsaidhoodandhimedtoswingindependentlythereoftowardandfromthemanhole;a

seat which the cover engagesvto closethe manhole,said-hoodhavingarhnarrangedtom7o themarginofthecoveratpointsdispoeedmbstantiallylthromhout its circumferential extent, saidooveralso havingalimitedindependent' movementnormaltotheplaneofitsseatandthe -hingeaxisotsaidboodbeingadimtabletoward 2,014,861 and from the said plane, and securing means for urging the hood toward the cover and clamping the latter between said hood rim and the cover seat. a

6. A combined manhole cover and hood for tanks, comprising ahood hinged to swing toward and from the manhole, a cover for the manhole within said hood and hinged to swing independently thereof toward and from the manhole, a

seal: which the cover engages to close the man-' hole, said hood having a rim arranged to engage the margin of the-cover substantially throughout its circumferential extent, the hinges of'said cover and hood having a common hinge pin and said cover having a limited movement normal to its seat on said hinge pin, and securing means for urging the hood toward the cover and clamping the latter between said hood rim and the cover seat.-

7. A combined manhole cover and hood for tanks, comprising a hood hinged to swing toward and from the manhole, a cover for the manhole.-

within said hood and hinged to swing independently thereof toward and from the manhole, a seat which the cover engages to close the manhole, said hood having a rim arranged to engage the margin of the cover substantially throughout its circumferential extent, the hinges of said cover and hood having a common hinge pin and said cover having a limited movement normal to a means for adjusting its seat on said hinge pin, said hinge pin in a direction normal to the plane 'tion arranged to of the cover seat, and securing means for urging the hood toward the cover and clamping the latter between said hood rim and the cover seat.

8. A combined manhole cover and hood for tanks, comprising a hood hinged to swing to- 5 ward and from the manhole, a cover for the man- 'hole within said hood and hinged to swing independently thereof toward and from the manhole, a seat which the cover engages to close the manhole, said cover also having a limited movement relatively to the'hood and normal to the plane of the cover seat, a fitting carried by said cover within the hood and communicating with the interior of the tank, said hood having a rim arranged to engage the margin of the cover at points disposed substantially throughout its circumferential extent, and securing means for urging the hood toward the cover and clamping the latter between said hood rim and the cover seat.

9. A combined manhole cover and protecting hood comprising a hood mounted to move toward and from the manhole, a cover for the manhole within the hood, a seat which the cover engages to close-the manhole, said hood having a porengage the cover, a securing screw and nut for urging the hood to clamp the cover between its seat and the hood, and a lock having a member passing through a hole in said screw and engaging said nut for locking the hood and cover in closed position.

' RAYMOND J. NEELY. 

